Walgreens Company Analysis and Recommendations Assignment

Walgreens Company Analysis and Recommendations - Assignment Example The main focus of the retail giant drug chain store over the years has been expanding the retail footprint. Over the years they have concentrated more on opening stores than focusing on the needs of the customers as well as the employees. They have in the past used command and control approach in executing their business strategy. Therefore, they have set out clear roles and instructions for the employees which are closely monitored and evaluated. This needs to change as employees work better when they feel valued and that they can contribute to decision making. Leadership at Walgreens entails command from the top on duties and orders that should be followed by the employee. They are made to feel like cogs in a machine. This trend should change as employees should be made to engage more in decision making and giving suggestions. The top to down approach on leadership should be minimised. Better communication and relationship between the top management and entry level employees should be encouraged as team work will ultimately make for a happy work environment and therefore better service delivery. It is also important to keep training employees on better management and work ethic practices. It is of paramount importance to engage employees in better personnel management techniques rather than using the command approach (Kotler & Armstrong, 2014). Once the employees feel valued, they will be happy and satisfied with their work. This will eventually trickle down to becoming more productive at the work place, rather than feeling pressured to deliver all the time. Other than employees, customers’ needs should always be a priority. It is good for the business to connect with the customers on an emotional level (Shalowitz, Stevens & Kotler, 2013).Walgreens can differentiate itself from the competition by better service delivery. It is necessary to engage with the customers one a one on one level. As such, Walgreens

The New Deal and Its Triumph Essay Example for Free

The New Deal and Its Triumph Essay The New Deal and it’s Triumph The 1930’s were a time of despair, poverty and distress and those who lived during this time believed it would be better to die, than to continue to live this way. When Franklin D. Roosevelt came into office in 1932, the United States was in the most disconsolate moments of the Great Depression. However, he brought with him a promise, a promise to make things better through a series of reforms he was planning on implementing known as the New Deal. In the first one hundred days following his inauguration as president, FDR, had already put into place a variety of programs, all with the goal to briskly improve the lives of those that had been most affected by the Great Depression and boost the economy. Through these programs FDR hoped to create jobs, lower the amount of people living on the streets, and most of all, uplift the spirits of the American people which had taken the biggest hit of all. The New Deal was a success because even though many minorities were overlooked, the overall population was influenced in a significant positive manner through job creation and governmental aid despite having negative effects in other areas of the country. Although the New Deal was an overall success in the United States, a significant amount of the minorities, especially the African Americans and Native Americans were neglected as opposed to the rest of the population. During the Great Depression, 50% of the African American citizens became unemployed, due to the fact that they were the first to be fired, and the last to be hired. Furthermore, many of the programs put into place by the New Deal, by improving the lives of other Americans, would damage and harm those of the African Americans. For example, as the excerpt from the Gilder Lehman Institute of American History online textbook , when the AAA was put into place between 1933-1934, more than 100,000 black workers who made their living as sharecroppers and tenant farmers were forced off the land (document B). When African Americans had a job, such as in the WPA, their working conditions would be incredibly harsh and unmerciful. These men were forced to work under harsh circumstances and if they didn’t they would lose  their job. A WPA foreman in the South being interviewed by a questioner from the Federal Writer’s Project claimed that, â€Å"As a matter of fact they cannot be sick for more than five days in succession. If they are†¦ they are automatically dropped from the rolls† (document H) demonstrating that these workers cannot afford to be sick if they want to be able to maintain their jobs. Additionally, even though the Black Cabinet was formed during these years, no civil rights reforms became law during the 1930 since the New Deal had no intention of working towards the civil rights movement. Another minority that was significantly overlooked and even negatively impacted was the Native Americans. As Document G mentions, â€Å"Many Indian problems remain unresolved, but every one has been addressed†. Sometimes, by addressing these problems, the government would actually hurt the Native Americans. For example, the Navajo Reduction Program forced hundreds of Indians to kill or sell thousands of their sheep and other forms of livestock; therefore raising the tension between the Native Americans and the government. The New Deal, even though it helped and lessened the economic problems throughout the country, actually weakened the situation of many minorities such as the African Americans and the Native Americans. The overall population of the United States was significantly enhanced by a number of the programs put into place by FDR through the New Deal. Roosevelt made the purpose of these programs and what he intended to do with them clear through he Fire Side Chats. For example, in one of these many chats, he claims, that â€Å"First, we are giving opportunity of employment to one-quarter of a million of the unemployed, especially the young men, to go into forestry and flood prevention work (document B) † He planned to do this through programs he implemented a short time after such as the CCC and WPA, which gave jobs to young men all over the country, whether they were skilled or not. Slowly, the effect became clear not only in the amount of young men with jobs, but also in the overall attitudes of those in America, which had begun to lose hope. As George Dobbin, he declares that â€Å"It’s the first time in my recollection that a President ever got up and said, ‘Iâ€⠄¢m interested in and aim to do somethin’ for the workin’ man (Document C)† Norman Thomas would have agreed with this whole heartedly since one of this main  objectives was to try and support the industrial worker and to improve their conditions. The results of these programs being put into place were obvious, as unemployment statistics were brought to light. In only two years, the unemployment rate had gone down from 20.6 % to a 14.2% (document E). These percentages strongly supported the idea that the New Deal programs were helping boost the country’s economy once more. Finally, many of these programs brought assistance to other areas of living. For example, the WPA brought hot lunches to schoolchildren and would serve 500,000 meals a day (document D). This made it possible for many children, living in detrimental conditions, to eat at least one nutritional meal a day. Huey Long, a past governor of Louisiana, would have agreed with this hot-lunch program due to the fact that he believed in the re-distribution of wealth from the rich to the poor, and in this case the money is being targeted to those of more humble background. Many programs put into place by FDR such as the CCC and the WPA significantly improved the wa y of life of hundreds of Americans. Eventually, even though the New Deal brought with it a lot of progress and improved life conditions, there were some areas of every day life it was not able to amend completely. One of these was the spirit of the American people. Songs such as â€Å"No Depression in Heaven† performed by the Carter Family showed the true feelings of those that were still struggling to survive. Lyrics such as â€Å"out here the hearts of men are failing† or â€Å"no orphan children crying for bread, no weeping widows toil or struggle, no shrouds, no coffins, and no dead (document E)† demonstrated how desperate and disconsolate many of the people are still and how they feel that it would be better to die, than to continue to live this way. Other negative impacts of the New Deal on the United States was the continuous discrimination towards woman and the fact that they were paid lower wages by many of the programs put into place such as the WPA or the PWA. Additionally Alden Stevens mentions that, â€Å"the New Deal Indian administration is neither as successful as its publicity says it is,† (document G) showing how improvements were not made in all areas of life in the United States. Furthermore, programs such as the TVA destroyed the environment by flooding hundreds of acres of land in order to build dams and reservoirs. The New Deal did not bring with it only positive effects towards the country. It had  negative connotations as well, those which could be observed in different, minor aspects of every day life. When FDR put into place the New Deal, he had three goals in mind. These were reform, recovery and reconstruction. He pretended to do this through various programs he implemented right away, which included the CCC, the WPA, the SSA, and much more. Slowly the effects of these programs began to be seen all over the country and the overall response was that yes, this program was working. People stopped living on the streets and began working, those who had lost everything now had insurance, and unskilled workers were now learning skills they needed in order to get a job. Even though many minorities were overlooked, and not all aspects of life in America were improved, the general impact of the New Deal was a positive one. Therefore, the New Deal was a success, because through this Roosevelt was able to create jobs and provide governmental aid, despite having slight negative effects in other areas of the country.

Commercial Identity :: Essays Papers

Commercial Identity This is one of the best essays I ever wrote. It was also the easiest and quickest to write because I had fun doing it. It was amazing how much my writing improved when I decided to have fun with it. "Forced" writing never turns out well no matter how skilled the writer is. Although girls may tell you they don't judge a guy based on the brand of beer he drinks, they are lying! Bud Light's new spot shows two guys fail miserably when they offer two good looking (surprise, surprise) ladies the wrong beer. The music stops, the pool ball that was about to fall in the corner pocket comes to rest on the edge. "On second thought, how about a Bud Light," says the more studly one. The music is rockin' again. The eight ball catches a drift and falls into the pocket, and those lucky ladies have found some happenin' guys who drink the coolest beer. The moral of the story is "buy a Bud and be a stud." However, that is not the only message in this commercial. The mere fact that commercials like this are successful indicates that they influence people's identity in society. That is a pretty deep and somewhat abstract statement to make about a commercial with a one sentence plot: "Guy gets girl because guy drinks a really cool beer." However, the statement is true and can easily be supported. Advertising today plays an unusual role in society in that it both reflects and effects our identities. That 30 second spot told me that I want to be just like those cooler-than-cool-Bud-Light-drinkin' guys. What did they look like? How did they dress? Those 30 seconds leave the viewer a mental picture of what cool is and what they want to be like. Just turn the T.V. on to Sunday afternoon football and you will see a dozen other commercials that support this definition of cool. Cool is being handsome. Cool is having a chick at your side and, most importantly, a beer in hand. (Bud Light, Coors, Miller--It doesn't matter, they all get the ladies.) Advertisers have certain expectations about their target audience. That is, they assume they know exactly who they are and who they want to be. Commercials try to reflect this on television to greater appeal to a their target audience. For example, football fans like beer, women, and tough cars (not necessarily in that order). Commercial Identity :: Essays Papers Commercial Identity This is one of the best essays I ever wrote. It was also the easiest and quickest to write because I had fun doing it. It was amazing how much my writing improved when I decided to have fun with it. "Forced" writing never turns out well no matter how skilled the writer is. Although girls may tell you they don't judge a guy based on the brand of beer he drinks, they are lying! Bud Light's new spot shows two guys fail miserably when they offer two good looking (surprise, surprise) ladies the wrong beer. The music stops, the pool ball that was about to fall in the corner pocket comes to rest on the edge. "On second thought, how about a Bud Light," says the more studly one. The music is rockin' again. The eight ball catches a drift and falls into the pocket, and those lucky ladies have found some happenin' guys who drink the coolest beer. The moral of the story is "buy a Bud and be a stud." However, that is not the only message in this commercial. The mere fact that commercials like this are successful indicates that they influence people's identity in society. That is a pretty deep and somewhat abstract statement to make about a commercial with a one sentence plot: "Guy gets girl because guy drinks a really cool beer." However, the statement is true and can easily be supported. Advertising today plays an unusual role in society in that it both reflects and effects our identities. That 30 second spot told me that I want to be just like those cooler-than-cool-Bud-Light-drinkin' guys. What did they look like? How did they dress? Those 30 seconds leave the viewer a mental picture of what cool is and what they want to be like. Just turn the T.V. on to Sunday afternoon football and you will see a dozen other commercials that support this definition of cool. Cool is being handsome. Cool is having a chick at your side and, most importantly, a beer in hand. (Bud Light, Coors, Miller--It doesn't matter, they all get the ladies.) Advertisers have certain expectations about their target audience. That is, they assume they know exactly who they are and who they want to be. Commercials try to reflect this on television to greater appeal to a their target audience. For example, football fans like beer, women, and tough cars (not necessarily in that order).

How does Golding present his characters in the opening chapter? Essay

Ralph is the first character to be introduced; he is introduced as being ‘the boy with fair hair’. Here Golding has played with the idea of Hitlers ideal, fair hair, blue eyes, etc. to show that Ralph has a seemingly perfect physique. His fair hair also shows that Ralph is a seemingly good character, because the idea of his hair being light in color contrasts any boy who has dark hair. This is a very conventional way of representing characters which is used due to the time in which Golding was writing; nowadays writers would try to stray away from this idea. One of the first actions which Ralph performs is to pull up his socks; this symbolizes the idea that he still retains the rules and regulations of being in a school environment. When Piggy places his trust in Ralph, Ralph uses this to gain the respect and friendship of Jack. This suggests, along with him being voted as chief and the way he handles Piggy when he confronts him about his nickname, that he is the politician of the group. Ralph is quite immature in the way he expresses joy, standing on his head, which suggests that he is not the most adequate leader. He is also not as intelligent as Piggy and without Piggys help with the Conch he could have never become Chief. Piggy is introduced as ‘it’ then the ‘voice’ and then ‘fat boy’. His physical body is also unattractive he is the fat boy or ‘Fatty’. He is introduced this way so that we immediately dislike him, and take the side of the other boys who bully him. Later on in the chapter we realize Piggys importance, he is always right, so when Ralph suggests they will be rescued soon and Piggy believes that they won’t, we know that they will not be rescued soon. Although we know that the ridiculing of Piggy is a natural thing for boys to do we still blame the boys for doing it as we believe we would not do the same. When Piggy meets with Ralph Piggy immediately offers Ralph friendship by asking his name, but Ralph rejects Piggy because of his appearance, as we would expect. But Piggy continues to place trust in Ralph as he does not want to be the social misfit which he is used to being, as suggested by his continual mentioning of his Auntie which suggests a sheltered home life. He places his trust in Ralph by firstly telling him his nick name and secondly by exposing himself to Ralph. As revenge Piggy does all that he can, he with holds his vote for Ralph for a short period when the vote for chief is occurring. This expresses his anger. Piggy asks everybody’s name as it gives him some security and allows him to enter a social group, but only the younger children tell him their names as they do not see him with the same prejudice and so look up to him as a ‘bigger boy’. But when Jack arrives Piggy is intimidated, because of Jack’s appearance and authority. He shows this by cowering behind Ralph, which also expresses his respect and trust in Ralph. Jack is introduced as â€Å"the boy who controlled them†. Jack looks smart and impressive and so Ralph wants to become his friend. When Jack informs us of his name he tells the group that he wishes to be called Merridew. This is because this is the name which he has been called at school and been held in high regard allowing him to have authority, but what he does not yet realize is that his ‘title’ means nothing now. Ralph on the other hand is happy with his identity and so doesn’t mind being called Ralph. Jack is a stereotypical bully which explains why Ralph is intimidated by him. He shouts, orders, and is usually aggressive. Jack is used to being in control and so when he joins the group he automatically tries to take control. However when it comes to the vote, only the people in the choir who still respect his authority, unwillingly vote for him. When Ralph is voted to be chief, Jack is mortified, but Ralph realizes that Jack could be a powerful ally and so consoles him by offering the title of Hunter. This gives Jack some authority outside of the choir and gives him the chance to undermine everything which Ralph says.

The Contemporary Life in Xijing, An Ancient Chinese City

In 1993 China was hit with an â€Å"event that caused a great literary and publishing earthquake†¦ † The Abandoned Capital hit bookstores in late July of 1993. This novel is Jia Pingwa†s graphic and sexual explicit insight on the contemporary life in Xijing, an ancient Chinese city. The novel never indicates time references but it is understood by readers that it is right after the Cultural Revolution. Jia is a well-known novelist that was famous for writing â€Å"pure literature. † So it was to everyone†s amazement that Jia wrote a novel that was so pornographic. The novel is about a middle-aged writer that engages in sexual immorality, deceit, and corruption. Many critics say it†s autobiographical but Jia denies all accusations. The Abandoned Capital was written in a way that Chinese readers have never seen before. During the Cultural Revolution self-indulgence was looked down upon, thus so was sexuality. The result of this was the ignorance of sexuality for the Chinese for years to come. To some, the sixty detailed sex-scenes in the novel were the first time they encountered sex. Jia, a peasant from the ancient capital of Xian, admits that he put the sexual content to keep readers interested but says his novel was really about the corruption of China. He further confesses that he got all his research from maopians, porn videos. Another reason for the shock from the novel was the fact that Jia had broken the three rules that they were so accustomed to by Chinese readers. 1) He downplayed the hero describing him as a â€Å"sexual pervert† with no power, no money, no influence and sex was the only way to escape his empty life. 2) He wrote explicitly about sex and 3) he did not offer a happy ending. Jia also said that he chose a writer as the main character because he knew them best. Not too many people see the novel†s true statement, which is the clear description of the â€Å"Chinese social system from the inside out. † Most critics see The Abandoned Capital as a novel with â€Å"unbearable vulgar sex scenes. † Yet I believe that bad press is always better than no press, and boy did Jia receive plenty of bad press. Actually the over all reception of the novel was pretty much fifty-fifty. Most of the elders and elite†s of China demanded if Jia was going to write about sex freely, why couldn†t he write it with some â€Å"beauty and depth. † Even Jia†s fellow writers poked at his writing saying â€Å"he wrote exactly the way he f***ed. † And then of course there are the feminists. They see the novel as an obvious â€Å"male chauvinistic† view of women. They say that in Jia†s eyes â€Å"women are playthings, having no business in life except being the object of male appreciation and pleasure. † They also added, â€Å"it†s as if Jia has never stepped into the twentieth century. Even the author of China Pop, Jiangying Zha comments on her distaste of the novel saying â€Å"all that dirt†¦ † As I said before, not everyone disliked the novel. Evident fans of the novel were merchants at local bookstands. The first print run of 480,000 copies was completely sold out within two months! By the end of 1993 the novel had sold over a million copies. The following summer rumors of a ban on the novel began going around. This of course gave the novel even more publicity and made Chinese readers even more curious. Other fans of the novel compared D. H. Lawrence†s Lady Chatterly†s Lover, which also contained sexual scenes, to Jia†s novel. One Beijing graduate student said reading both may cause a young man to masturbate but â€Å"with Lawrence he may feel a but ashamed of himself afterwards, but never with Jia! † And some bluntly say, â€Å"there is absolutely nothing perverse in this novel†s sex scenes. † A friend of Jiang adds that Jia is describing China†s current social system. With the â€Å"daily transactions of power, how people manipulate at all levels, the bribing, the networking, and the giving and receiving of favors. He further adds that people in the social system â€Å"know the invisible rules, and they know they can†t beat the system. They also know they can play along with this old game. † It is said that no other Chinese novelist has ever illustrated this picture so well as Jia. Another friend of Jiang†s is a business lawyer that agrees with the fact that The Abandoned Capital is the Chinese society in a â€Å"nutshell. † He even describes his encounters with taking advantage of the system. The Cultural Revolution left China with numerous changes. However, as noted earlier, the Cultural Revolution left China as uneducated about sex as a ten-year-old child. In the seventies sex and romance disappeared from Chinese arts and literature. During these times men and women stayed single while displaying interest only in the revolution. The children of the revolution grew up in a vacant environment. They were not taught sexual education like the U. S. Jiang herself had not learned about the birds and the bees until she was nineteen. It was so bad that movies with kissing scenes were censored for children. During the mid-eighties the reform years were in full swing. With it came the market of pornography. Guangdong, Fujian, and Hainan Island were the first mainland provinces to acquire the market. The flood of pornography astounded the Chinese government. There was nothing they could do to stop it. If they closed down one pornography ring a number of others would take its place. Every city and province in China has felt the effects of the flood of pornography. Some incidents include a television station worker that was so caught in his porno movie that he actually connected the wrong line and aired the movie to the entire city. Some companies award clients with porn videos. By far the most disgusting display is children under ten were among the audience in cinemas showing porn. The lack of sexual educational programs will just keep this industry booming. Where else will the Chinese â€Å"fill in the blank spot important to millions? † Some parts of the population watched their farm animals mate for their education. This led one couple to have â€Å"eight years of anal intercourse†! I believe without proper education on any subject leads to uninformed versions of that subject. Being a man I don†t totally think pornography is bad, but it shouldn†t be used for sexual education. Growing up in a Chinese family I know very well how the red children of the revolution felt. However, living in America, there were so many ways to be educated on sex. I myself learned the facts of life through television and friends. I also was privileged to receive sex education in high school. Taking sex ed really removed a lot of myths about sex for me. The times have changed and China has to change with it. China is always playing catch up to the rest of the world. Today sex is a freely talked about subject and China should realize this. Without proper sex education teenagers of China will be misled and probably endanger themselves. I believe Jia Pingwa didn†t write his novel to emphasize sex. I myself haven†t read the novel but I do truly believe that he wrote the fictional novel to describe his feelings toward the Chinese society today. Most bold writers are often misunderstood and this case is no different. Maybe living in America all my life has given me the freedom to think this way but if China would lighten up a little it would be only then the real learning begins.

Whats Considered a Bad SAT Score Avoid This

What's Considered a Bad SAT Score Avoid This SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Many students worry that a bad SAT score will be the kiss of death for their college applications. The SAT is an important part of the admissions process, so you obviously don’t want to submit a crummy score - but how do you know whether your score is all that bad to begin with? If you're worried about low scores, understanding where your scores stand in relation to other students’ is the first step to improvement. In this post, I’ll talk about comparing your own scores to those of the general population, your peer group, your target schools, and even your own potential scores. I'll finish off with strategies to bring up scores no matter your goals or study timeline. With this information, you'll be well-prepared to make necessary steps in improving your SAT scores. A Note on Percentiles Before we get started, I want to take a minute to explain percentiles, which arean important concept to grasp when we talk about comparing your SAT scores to different groups, whether they're big or small. Percentile scores are not the same as percentage scores (for example, a number out of 100 that tells you the fraction of correct answers you gave on a test). Percentile scorestell you how you do in relation to other people, which is really helpful when you’re dealing with a scoring system that isn’t necessarily intuitive. For example: A 10th percentile score means that you scored higher than 10% of the people who took the same exam 50th percentile means you scored higher than half 90th percentile means you scored higher than 90% of test-takers. You can have a high percentage score on a test and still end up with a low percentile score (if the test was easy), or a low percentage score and a higher percentile score (if the test was hard). For example, if you score a 90% on an exam where only 10% of students scored below a 90%, you'd be in the 10th percentile. This information is important because your actual SAT scores are only useful when you cantranslate them to percentile scores. When we talk about good or bad scores, we're inevitably comparing your test scores to those of other people or groups. Now that you know all about percentiles, we can get into the nitty-gritty stuff: what is a bad SAT score? Low Scores Compared to the US General Population We're starting big here - to get a basicunderstanding of low SAT scores, we'll look at how the general population performs on their tests. Your definition of low or poor scores might differ from other students - a reasonable cutoff for low scores, for simplicity’s sake, would be at the 25th percentile (so, the bottom quarter of scorers). As you may already know, the SAT is currently scored out of 1600points (the lowest you can score is 400).The average composite SAT score is around 1000, which is about the 50th percentile. Because the scoring system has recently changed, we don't have a lot of information about typical So that you can get a better understanding of general performance, here are some other important percentile cutoffs and their corresponding composite scores: 25th percentile→about 840 composite score 50th percentile→about 1000 composite score 75th percentile→about 1200 composite score If you'd like more detailed information about SAT percentiles, check out our score rankings guide. Low Scores Compared to Your Peers I don't usually recommend comparing yourself to peers;in this case, it's unfortunately necessary. Now that you know how you may compare to the rest of the country, the next step in figuring out what a low score is would be to figure out what your peers are scoring. Although college admissions officers often view SAT scores as a decent measure of academic preparation, they recognize that many other factors - including family income, social privileges, and educational advantages - play into students' scores as well. Thus, you'll be most likely compared to students who are similar to you in terms of school type, geographical area, background, interests, and grades. The better a handle you have on your peers' scores, the more nuanced your understanding of what a low score will be. Getting ahold of this information will be a bit more sensitive than just looking up average national SAT scores. Even if you can't get information right from your classmates, there are steps you can take to get a good estimate of peers' SAT score ranges: Get your school report with SAT score information. This report will have aggregated scores from students from your high school. How does the high school average compare to the national average? How do your scores (real or target) compare to those of your peers? See your guidance counselor. If you don't have access to your school report, or you're having trouble interpreting the information, your guidance counselor should be able to give you an idea of how your peers perform on the SAT. Ask around. If you're still having trouble getting information on peer scores, you could try asking your classmates. This will beespecially helpful if you can get info from honors students - their scores will generally be more competitive. SAT scores can bea touchy topic, however,so be sensitive and respectful if you discuss this information with your classmates. Use a rough rule of thumb. When lacking good information about peers' performance, you could use these (general) rules of thumb. Just keep in mind that these may deviate from your own school's averages depending on average performance (i.e. whether SAT scores at your school are above or below the national averages): Low composite scores for honors students (top 1/3rd of the class) will be around 1117, or 70th percentile nationally Low composite scores for top honors students (top 1/10th of the class) will be around 1256, or 85th percentile nationally Low Scores for Your Target Colleges Knowing how your scores compare to your peers may help you hone in on appropriate target, reach, and safety schools. How do you figure out what these schools will think of your SAT scores? What's the low score cutoff that will put your application in danger? Put simply; a low score is a score that will get you rejected.Schools don’t really publish hard minimum SAT requirements, but it’s east to get a general idea of what SAT scores they expect from applicants. In general, the bottom 25% of scores for a particular school is the danger zone. You can still get into a school if your score falls below the 25th percentile, but the chances are that your application will have to be exceptionally strong in other areas (e.g. GPA, extracurriculars). The "middle 50" percent of scores is a pretty safe range to aim for. If all students' scores were lined up in order, the middle 50 would be the range of scores from the 25th percentile to the 75th percentile. Your SAT scores don't necessarily need to be at the top of this range to get into a particular school, because by definition, 75% of its students have scores lower than those at the 75th percentile. If you want more information about SAT score ranges for particular schools, just google"[school name] PrepScholar admissions requirements." You can easily convert old SAT scores (out of 2400) to the new scoring system by multiplying by 2/3. What do you do, though, if your scores consistently fall in the bottom 25% of score ranges for the schools you're considering? Although it'simportant to have reach schools, it would be wise to apply to some less competitive schools as well. Apply to several schools where you fall into the "middle 50" score range in addition to a few safety schools to optimize admissions options. Low Scores for Yourself This isn't a comparison that many students consider when setting their own goal scores. There's so much focus on outward comparison that sometimes we forget to consider our own capabilities when thinking about low or high scores. It's important to be realistic about your own strengths and weaknesses when setting low score and high score parameters. If you set your score goal too high, you'll cause yourself unnecessary stress and frustration; set it too low, and you could miss out on opportunities at more competitive schools. How do you get an idea of what's reasonable? Your first step is to get a baseline score. Study for about 10 hours to gain basic familiarity with the SAT before taking a full practice test. Your score will give you a concrete place to work from. Keep in mind that many students, with adequate test prep, can improve 240+ points from this original baseline. This important initial step should help you understand what to expect from yourself when it comes to good and bad scores. If you’re not improving much after your baseline, then you know that the way you’re studying isn’t working. You may consider your baseline score to be within your low score range since you achieved it with minimal study time. To learn more about how to set appropriate SAT goal scores, read our guide to good and bad SAT scores. Don't get discouraged if you have low scores - that just means you have room to grow! How Do You Raise a Low SAT Score? If you've gone through all the steps of comparison and you find yourself disappointed with your scores, not to worry! There are things you can do to bring up those scores, but your plan of attack will vary based on your goal score and your study time availability. So what's your goal score? If your scores are already pretty high, and you want to get them as close to perfect as possible, read our guide to scoring a 1600. If your scores are in the lower end of the range, and you want to bring them up across the board, check out our posts on bringing up your reading, writing, and math scores. How much time do you have to study? If you have quite a bit of time on your hands, read more about setting a study timeline. You can also dive deeper into our blog sections dedicated to the reading, writing, and math sections. If youaretaking the SAT relatively soon, check out our last-minute study tips and strategies. Disappointed with your scores? Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points?We've written a guide about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. 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Edwin H. Colbert - Profile of the Famous Paleontologist

Edwin H. Colbert - Profile of the Famous Paleontologist Name: Edwin H. Colbert Born/Died: 1905-2001 Nationality: American Dinosaurs Discovered: Scutellosaurus, Staurikosaurus, Effigia, Lystrosaurus, Coelophysis About Edwin H. Colbert During his long life, Edwin H. Colbert made his share of major fossil discoveries; he was in charge of the team that unearthed a dozen Coelophysis skeletons at Ghost Ranch, New Mexico, in 1947, and he also named Staurikosaurus, one of the earliest known dinosaurs of the late Triassic period. For 40 years, Colbert was a curator at the American Museum of Natural History in New York, where his mentor was the distinguished fossil hunter Henry Fairfield Osborn, and he wrote a series of popular books (including 1945s seminal The Dinosaur Book: The Ruling Reptiles and Their Relatives) that helped introduce baby-boomer kids to paleontology. When he was already past 60, Colbert accepted a post as curator of vertebrate paleontology at the Museum of Northern Arizona. Today, aside from Coelophysis, Colbert is best known for his 1969 discovery of the skeleton of an early therapsid, or mammal-like reptile, Lystrosaurus, in Antarctica. Before Colberts expedition, various Lystrosaurus fossils had been unearthed in South Africa, and paleontologists had come to the conclusion that this creature couldnt possibly have been a good swimmer. Colberts discovery proved that Antarctica and South Africa had once been joined in a single southern continent, Gondwana, thus lending support to the theory of continental drift (that is, that the earth’s continents have slowly been joining, separating, and moving around over the last 500 million years or so).

A Creative Way to Get Paid for Talking

A Creative Way to Get Paid for Talking In a recent Funds for Writers issue, Hope continued her steady mentorship of us writers But, we all cry, how do we get our names out there in the world? How will anybody ever know about the fabulous books we have written if we dont talk to every audience that will have us? I have hit on an easy solution to the event-doesn’t-want-to-pay problem, so I wanted to share it. It started as just an experiment, but was so successful that I have used it half a dozen times since and plan to employ it whenever I have the chance. Many of the groups that invite me are chapters of charitable organizations or civic groups. That means they operate on very tight budgets and dont have the means to pay much of a speakers fee. Im not talking Madeleine Albright or Carly Fiorina –level payments here ($50,000 and $73,000, respectively), but a modest $250 honorarium plus travel expenses. So, instead of an honorarium, I have asked the organizers to buy one book for every attendee at their conferences and programs. I offer to sell the books to the group at deep discount, books that I purchased at an even deeper discount from the publisher. The group can then build the cost of the volume into the registration fee. This is a fairly painless price tag for both the sponsoring organization and the participant, and attendees get to walk away with some pretty substantial swag. To illustrate: I purchase books for $5 each from the publisher. I charge the groups $10 each - still far less than the list price of $28.95. In an audience of fifty people, I can make $250, precisely what I would have earned had I charged an honorarium, and much more than I would have netted from royalties – at $1.20 per book, only $60. And, of course, since royalties depend both on sales and the speed of calculating those sales at the publishing house, those payments arrive in my checking account much more slowly than the check from the host group does. In fact, if I must fly to the speaking gig, I ship the books ahead. The check arrives before I even pack my bags. So, you see, my method yields quicker and greater results. Not bad for a few hours of time. Even better, people have my book in their hands. If they like what they read, they may be more likely to buy my next book, especially when they have had the opportunity to meet the author and discuss the book with her. Isnt that the point of getting out there to speak in the first place? Finally, a bonus: I get the books out of my house! (I know you have cases of books in your closet/attic/basement, too.)

REPORT ON AM TRANSMISSION AND RECEPTION Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

REPORT ON AM TRANSMISSION AND RECEPTION - Essay Example The following laboratory experiment is a practical demonstration of AM technique with the application of a balanced modulator. First the message signal will be modulated with carrier signal using balanced modulator. The modulated signal is then amplified sufficiently and transmitted through antenna. The transmitted signal is then received through a receiver. Before mixing the signal to local tune, the received signal efficiency is enhanced through a RF amplifier and then shifted to pre-define IF frequency, normally at 455 KHz in AM broadcasting systems. The desired signal is boosted by using an IF filter. It discards the undesired portion of signals. Finally, the original message is recovered using a envelop detector. For modulation of carrier we first we will generate the carrier wave through the application of VCO-LO while the message signal will be generated through signal generator. The whole process involves following steps; After adjusting everything and setting the oscilloscope vertical mode to ALT and trigger on channel 1 as shown in figure (5) bellow, the message signal (M) is connected the oscilloscope channel 1 and channel 2 probe is to be connected to output of the modulator. Now if we vary the frequency of message signal while keeping the amplitude constant the frequency of the Amplitude modulated signal also changes while its â€Å"amplitude† will remain constant as shown in figure (6) on next page. Also the output signal with modulating index 1 and when it over-modulated is shown in figures (8) and (9) respectively below. In case of over-modulation the modulation index will have greater than unity value. Since the condition for envelope detector in terms of modulation is defined as; Now as further step the two-post connector at the output of balanced modulator is connected to â€Å"SSB† and â€Å"AM† terminals while another two two-post

What is superconductivity and what practical applications does it have Essay

What is superconductivity and what practical applications does it have (radiotelescopes, MagLevs, etc) - Essay Example Their application makes use of the properties rendered to them by electric and magnetic reactivity that is exploitable in major engineering projects. As briefly indicated in the applications segment, it is clear that superconductivity phenomenon offers a wide range of application solutions that increase efficiency and safety. According to the Bardeen, Cooper and Schrieffer (BCS) theory, electron pairing phenomena near the Fermi level then inside Cooper pairs occasions some rare form of interaction that stabilizes the crystal lattice of the material in question (Creswick et al, 1995). The three scientists behind the discovery were led to this discovery by the existence of a band gap on the Fermi level which was then extrapolated to the interpretation of crystal lattice phenomenon. Further research that included the isotope effect was applied in conjunction with the critical temperature observation of a physical state that exhibited superconductor features finally led to the discovery credited to Bardeen, Cooper and Schrieffer who won the Peace Nobel Prize in 1972 (hyperphysics.edu, n.d). This happens when the material is subjected to the temperatures specification that supports the superconductivity phenomena. Electron pairing of this phenomenon obeys quantum mechanics principles where lattice vibrations cause them to attract each other in what is referred to as phonon interaction. This happens in type I semiconductors that consist of about thirty pure metals of the periodic table. Type I superconductors obey the BSC theory and only experience superconductivity below the critical temperature (Tc). The exact temperature for which each of these superconductor materials exhibit this zero electric resistance phenomenon is referred to as critical temperature (Tc) and it varies from one material to the other. To achieve the critical temperature for any of these materials in order to acquire the near

Supply and Demand Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Supply and Demand - Essay Example Rent control, the worst planning by governments lacking courage and vision, has been spearheaded by upstate lawmakers such as Assemblyman The consequences of price control on apartments are that entrepreneurs who see inadequate return on their investment are not motivated to invest in rental housing; landlords whose rent do not cover cost of operations stop maintain units or abandon them; despite rent controls, New York City renters pay the higher average rents in the country; demand for excessive space remains high because rents are artificially low; and rent control does not provide affordable housing for low to moderate income tenants. Rent control, like all other government-mandated price controls, is a law placing a maximum price, or a "rent ceiling," on what landlords may charge tenants. To have any effect, the rent level must be set at a rate below that which would otherwise have prevailed. And if rents are established at less than their equilibrium levels, demand will necessarily exceed supply, and rent control will lead to a shortage of dwelling spaces. In the absence of controls on prices, the amount of a commodity or service demanded is larger than the amount supplied, prices rise to eliminate the shortage (by both bringing forth new supply and by reducing the amount demanded). But controls prevent rents from attaining market-clearing levels and shortages result. Existi

Interview Questions - The influence of a parent or other family Essay

Interview Questions - The influence of a parent or other family memebers on participation in Sport - Essay Example ho encouraged students to engage in sports, who discouraged them from engaging in sports, whether parents participate in physical activities, and the role of health in promoting the participation of a child in physical activity. On this note, the minor themes that relate to the major theme of this report are; family, health condition and childhood. The research conducted manages to highlight these themes through fifteen questions, which focus on the role of parents in promoting physical activities amongst their children, their role in hindering physical activities amongst their children, the role of health care in sports, and the manner in which an individual engaged in physical activities. By looking at how the fifteen questions are structured, though they depict a minor theme, an answer to them contributes in answering the major theme of the research. This major theme is the role of parents or family in influencing their children to engage in sports/ physical activity. In this report, the four individuals interviewed highlighted the importance of family members in their socialization process, and this process led them to engage in physical activities. Family socialization process refers to the methodologies that people learn, and thereafter develop into adulthood possessing the characteristics that they have. For instance, there are high chances that an adult person who is a fan of football engaged in the sport during his or her childhood (Sansone and Harackiewicks, 430). Chances are likely that this engagement was motivated by their parents or family members. This is because as a child, a person requires guidance in all the affairs of their lives; from education, to the sports and recreational life they engage in (Sansone and Harackiewicks, 417). From the findings of the interview, this report proves that parents, through their guidance, play a role in influencing their children on the kind of physical activity they engage in. This report analyzes the

The Real Expense of Illegal Immigration Research Proposal

The Real Expense of Illegal Immigration - Research Proposal Example It has been estimated that the added cost to the federal government will be more than $15 billion per year when the present illegal aliens become citizens and begin collecting welfare benefits. The proposed bill will add greatly to this number because it will encourage a new surge of low skilled workers through its guest worker program. Traditionally, immigrants to the U.S. were less likely than those born in America to collect welfare. This historic arrangement has radically changed over the past three decades. Today, immigrant families are at least 50 percent more likely to receive federal benefits than those born in this country. Additionally, immigrants are more likely to adapt their lives to rely on the welfare system and studies have shown the longer immi ¬grants stay in the U.S., the more likely they are to be on welfare. To further aggravate the situation, when an illegal immigrant becomes a citizen, he can legally bring his parents who also have the right to become citi ¬zens. The estimated long-term cost of overall federal benefits could exceed $50 billion per year for the parents of the 10 million beneficiaries of amnesty. â€Å"In the long run, the bill, if enacted, would be the largest expansion of the welfare state in 35 years† (Rector, 2006). Approximately half of current illegal immigrants do not possess a high-school level education. Welfare use among this group and for low-skill immigrants granted amnesty is three times the rate for the U.S. born citizens.

Interview Questions - The influence of a parent or other family Essay

Interview Questions - The influence of a parent or other family memebers on participation in Sport - Essay Example ho encouraged students to engage in sports, who discouraged them from engaging in sports, whether parents participate in physical activities, and the role of health in promoting the participation of a child in physical activity. On this note, the minor themes that relate to the major theme of this report are; family, health condition and childhood. The research conducted manages to highlight these themes through fifteen questions, which focus on the role of parents in promoting physical activities amongst their children, their role in hindering physical activities amongst their children, the role of health care in sports, and the manner in which an individual engaged in physical activities. By looking at how the fifteen questions are structured, though they depict a minor theme, an answer to them contributes in answering the major theme of the research. This major theme is the role of parents or family in influencing their children to engage in sports/ physical activity. In this report, the four individuals interviewed highlighted the importance of family members in their socialization process, and this process led them to engage in physical activities. Family socialization process refers to the methodologies that people learn, and thereafter develop into adulthood possessing the characteristics that they have. For instance, there are high chances that an adult person who is a fan of football engaged in the sport during his or her childhood (Sansone and Harackiewicks, 430). Chances are likely that this engagement was motivated by their parents or family members. This is because as a child, a person requires guidance in all the affairs of their lives; from education, to the sports and recreational life they engage in (Sansone and Harackiewicks, 417). From the findings of the interview, this report proves that parents, through their guidance, play a role in influencing their children on the kind of physical activity they engage in. This report analyzes the

What does work mean Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

What does work mean - Essay Example Scientifically, work is related to change of energy to come up with finished good for consumption or for visible results (Loutfi, 2001, p. 87). According to scholars of physical science, work can only be done when force is applied to an object. There are different categories of work, which include Full time in which an individual is found to be in working place actively carrying out daily chores for about thirty-eight hours for every seven days (Batsleer, & Davies, 2010 p. 52). A full-time worker enjoys right to leave every year during which he is supposed to receive regular monthly payment.Furthermore, the full-time worker should be granted sick and individual excuse from the job. Additionally, full-time work enjoys right to work in a good environment and early information in event of any changes at the workplace (Lederman, &Teresi, 1993, p. 62). Part-time workers are found working for few hours a day but they have the specific time to attend job.Moreover, casual workers attend job at regular hours and they do not have to work every day. Their pay is not fixed and they do not enjoy the benefit of work protection and increment of payment (Friedman, 2005, p. 77).On the other hand, Contract workers are employees who make some agreement with business organizations or individuals to do some job for the organization setting particular remunerations.Basing our discussion on studies carried out about work, scholars have observed that people engage in work so as to earn their living.

Vietnam Currency Protectionism Essay Example for Free

Vietnam Currency Protectionism Essay Vietnams decision to devalue its currency by 5 per cent last week to protect itself from undervaluation of the Chinese renminbi, and the worried response from Thailand and other Asian countries, suggests the move towards global trade conflict may already be unstoppable. As one group of countries seeks to gain or maintain trade advantage by manipulating their currencies, the historical precedent suggests that countries that are not able to devalue will respond with trade protection, especially tariffs and other barriers, and global trade will suffer. In the 1930s many, but not all, major economies imposed draconian constraints on trade which sharply contracted international commerce and almost certainly slowed the global recovery. It was widely understood then that the collapse in international trade would only worsen the crisis, and yet countries, seeking to protect their own positions, collectively engaged in behaviour that left them worse off. American economists Barry Eichengreen and Douglas Irwin recently published a paper examining the roots of the post-1930 surge in protection. They argue that during the 1920s and shortly after the onset of the 1929 crisis, several countries abandoned the gold standard and engaged in beggar-thy-neighbour competitive devaluations. These countries subsequently experienced rapid improvements in their trade balances and suffered much less from the ravages of the global contraction of the 1930s. But others, most obviously the US and European gold bloc countries, were sharply constrained in their ability to adjust their currencies. These countries suffered much of the brunt of the adjustment as imports became more competitive against their domestic industries, especially in relation to countries that were less constrained. These were also the countries that were most likely to resort to what the authors call the second-best adjustment mechanisms tariffs, import quotas, exchange controls, and so on. The exchange rate regime and economic policies associated with it were key determinants of trade policies of the early 1930s, they wrote. Countries that remained on the gold standard, keeping their currencies fixed against gold, were more likely to restrict foreign trade. With other countries devaluing and gaining competitiveness at their expense, they adopted such policies to strengthen the balance of payments and fend off gold losses. That should not surprise us. In a world of contracting global demand policymakers were concerned not just with measures to boost domestic demand but also with measures that allowed them to acquire a greater share of foreign net demand. The easiest way to do this was by devaluation. But countries that were unable to realign their currencies remained under pressure to find alternative ways of helping their domestic industries. They resorted to tariffs and import quotas. The same thing may be happening again. Of course no currency is any longer tied to gold, so there is no country whose ability to devalue, as in the 1930s, is limited by a commitment to maintain gold parity. But there are countries whose abilities to manage their currencies are nonetheless severely constrained. The US dollar, for example, is widely believed to be overvalued, especially in relation to the currencies of Asian nations. Because of massive intervention by Asian central banks, however, it is proving almost impossible for the dollar to adjust sufficiently, except against floating currencies such as the euro. This creates a similar problem for Europe. Although few analysts believe the euro to be undervalued against the dollar indeed, most believe it is more likely to be overvalued it is nonetheless forced to bear the brunt of US dollar adjustment by further appreciation. This means that both the US and eurozone countries suffer from currency intervention and competitive devaluations elsewhere, with little room to adjust. What can the US and Europe do? If Messrs Eichengreen and Irwin are right, they are likely to resort to the same second-best options available to them as countries locked into overvalued gold exchange rates in the 1930s. They will raise tariffs or otherwise intervene directly in trade, and it is pretty clear already that as US and European anger over currency misalignment grows, the recourse to protectionism is also growing. Nearly everyone agrees that a world that retreats into direct and indirect forms of trade protection is a world that is worse off and likely to recover more slowly from the global crisis. But the fact that everyone seems to agree on this point should not allay our worries. In the 1930s, it was also well understood that the crisis would be exacerbated by plunging international trade. This did not stop a descent into protectionism which put the Great into the Great Depression. Once again it seems we are going to make the same mistake. Countries that can expand their share of global demand by competitive devaluations are seeking to do so. Countries that cannot will almost certainly consider more direct forms of intervention. We should worry. Without serious global co-ordination, in which the US and Europe forswear protectionism in exchange for significant appreciation of undervalued currencies, rising tariffs appear inevitable.

Experimental Investigations of Catalytic Effect of Cu2+

Experimental Investigations of Catalytic Effect of Cu2+ Experimental Investigations of Catalytic Effect of Cu2+ During Anodic Disolution of Iron in NaCl Electrolyte R.K Upadhyay1, Arbind Kumar2 and P.K Srivastava3 Abstract: Taguchi’s orthogonal array L9 has been effectively used to study the effect of process parameters such as voltage, feed rate and electrolyte concentration on material removal rate in context of two different types of electrolyte namely aqueous NaCl solution and electrolyte solution containing Cu2+ ions. The results indicated that Cu2+ has a catalytic effect on the anodic dissolution of iron, which restrict the oxidation of Fe2+ to Fe3+ and increases the dissolution rate during machining. The experimental results were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) method to investigate the significance and percentage contribution of individual process parameters on performance characteristics. Key Words: Electrochemical Machining, Aqueous NaCl, Cu2+, Parameters, Oxidation, Material Removal rate. Introduction: Electrochemical machining (ECM) has got an industrial importance due to its capability of controlled atomic level metal removal1. It is an anodic dissolution  process based on electrolysis, where the application of a more traditional process is not convenient. ECM has been successfully employed in aerospace, automobile industries and now gaining much importance in the electronics and other high-tech industries for the fabrication of micro components2-3. Mask less and through mask electrochemical micromachining techniques have been successively used thin films and foils of materials those are difficult to machine by other methods4-5. Electrochemical machining is low voltage (5-25 volt) machining process which offers high metal removal rate and also capable to machine hard conductive materials into complicated profiles without any thermal damages thus suitable for mass production work with low labor requirements6-7. The dissolution rate is highly reliant on the selection of electroly tes and its current carrying capacity. On increasing the concentration of electrolyte solution dissolution rate also increases but excess concentration allows the crystal formation, which may damage the accessories of ECM and reduce the volume of electrolyte in flow pipes. The conductivity of electrolyte depends not only on the concentration but also on ionic interaction. Thus, the current carrying process done by the base electrolyte is small, but H+ and OH ions produced in electrolysis of water play important role8-9. The achievement of higher dissolution rate in ECM is a strong research base which is possible by change in composition of electrolyte solution to promote catalytic effect during dissolution10. During electrochemical machining of iron at low current density it has been observed that Fe+ cation formed very easily but it is highly unstable and immediately oxidizes into Fe2+ state. Increase in current density leads to simultaneous production of Fe2+ and Fe3+, at higher current density apparent valence of iron increases above three11. Therefore, to stabilized Fe2+ in the aqueous solution is a challenge during dissolution. EXPERIMENTAL SET-UP AND PRINCIPLE OF ECM: Fig 1 Experimental set-up ECM is an anodic dissolution process works on the principle of Faradays law. While machining of iron in presence of aqueous NaCl electrolyte solution the following chemical reactions are observed12. Reactions at Cathode: Na+ + e à ¯Ã†â€™Ã‚ ³ Na Na + H2O à ¯Ã†â€™Ã‚ ³ NaOH + H+ 2H+ + 2e à ¯Ã†â€™Ã‚ ³ H2 It shows that only hydrogen gas will evolve at cathode. When pure iron is being machined electrochemically the following reactions would occur13-14. Fe à ¯Ã†â€™Ã‚ ³ Fe2++ 2e Fe2+ + 2Cl à ¯Ã†â€™Ã‚ ³ FeCl2 Fe2+ + 2(OH) à ¯Ã†â€™Ã‚ ³ Fe(OH)2 FeCl2 + 2(OH) à ¯Ã†â€™Ã‚ ³ Fe(OH)2 + 2Cl 2Cl Cl2 + 2e 2FeCl2 + Cl2 à ¯Ã†â€™Ã‚ ³ 2FeCl3 H+ + Cl à ¯Ã†â€™Ã‚ ³ HCl 2Fe(OH)2 + H2O +O2 à ¯Ã†â€™Ã‚ ³ 2Fe(OH)3 Fe(OH)3 + 3HCl à ¯Ã†â€™Ã‚ ³ FeCl3+ 3H2O FeCl3+ 3NaOH à ¯Ã†â€™Ã‚ ³ Fe(OH)3 + 3NaCl It shows that during electrochemical machining of iron in NaCl electrolyte, iron is removed as Fe(OH)2 and precipitated as sludge while sodium chloride is recovered back. Due to further reaction, formation of Fe(OH)3 is also possible Which, confirms the existence of iron in +2 and +3 states during dissolution. Determination of Fe2+ and Fe3+ ions in electrolyte solution: The electrolyte solution containing Fe+2 and Fe+3 ions was collected. Fe+2 ions were determined directly by titrating a known volume of iron electrolyte solution with K2Cr2 O7 in acidic medium (HCl). Cr2O7 2- + 6Fe+2 + 14H+ = 2Cr+3 + 6Fe +3 + 7H2O Internal indicator N- phenyl anthranilic acid was used to mark the end point. Fe+3 ions were determined after all the Fe+3 ions are reduced into Fe+2 ions with SnCl2 in presence HCl in hot. Sn+2 + 2Fe +3 = Sn+4 + 2Fe+2 The solution was then cooled and excess SnCl2 was removed by adding HgCl2 solution. 2Hg+2 + Sn+2 +Cl = Sn+4 +Hg2Cl2 (white ppt) Titration of known volume of standard solution was done using standard solution of K2Cr2O7 in acidic medium. From the volume of K2Cr2O7 used, the total amount of Fe+2 and Fe+3 ions was determined. The amount of Fe+3 ion was determined by subtracting amount of Fe+2 which is determined earlier. Material removal rate during electrochemical machining is greatly influenced by dissolution valence. As the dissolution valence decreases MRR increases. In this paper an approach is made to enhance the electrochemical dissolution of iron through control of valency (transition) therefore, in this direction, use of electrolyte solution containing Cu2+ is suggested. The dissolution limit of iron by Cu2+ ions can be is justified by considering the standard electron potential E ° for Cu2+, Fe/Fe2+and Fe/Fe3+ described as follows15. Cu2+ + 2e- Cu E ° = +0.34V Fe2+ + 2e- Fe E ° = -0.44V Fe3+ + e- Fe2+ E ° = +0.77V As E ° for Cu2+ Cu is more positive than Fe2+ Fe, Cu2 +will oxidize Fe to Fe2+. However, as E ° for Cu2+ Cu is less positive than Fe3+ Fe2+, Cu2+ will not oxidize Fe2+ to Fe3+. Making electrolyte solution: 250 gramsof NaCl was mixed with400 gramsof CuSO4 in10 litersof water. The mixture is stirred well for 2 minutes then heated until it loses its green color. The crystals of sodium sulphate (Na2SO4) and copper chloride (CuCl2) were removed by filtering the solution and thi the solution thus obtained was saturated solution of Na2SO4 containing Cu2+ ions which participates in anodic dissolution process. MACHINING CONDITIONS: Following machining parameters are selected on the basis of performance characteristics, Table1: Machining conditions for analysis SELECTION OF MACHINING PROCESS PARAMETERS Table 2 shows machining parameters and selected levels for experimental procedure Table 2: Process parameter and their levels Measurement of MRR The initial weight of the work piece was taken for calculation of MRR. Keeping the flow rate constant at 15 lit/min and the rest of the parameters are set according to table 1 for each run. Work piece was kept horizontal, and cylindrical electrode was used for machining. Gap between tool and workpiece was maintained carefully to avoid the choking. The electrode was fed continuously towards the work piece during machining and time was recorded. After machining, the cavity was formed on the work-piece. The final weight of the work-piece was taken and material removal rate was calculated as per the following formula: MRR= †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. (1) EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE: The design resulted in total of eighteen experiments, which are performed at 10V-18V supply voltage, 10-30 g/lit electrolyte concentration and 0.0001-0.0005 cm/sec feed rate as the values for the control variables. The responses measured are Material removal rate (MRR) Scheme of the experiments is as shown in Table 3. Table 3: Taguchi L9 OA for MRR RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) when machinating in presence of NaCl electrolyte solution: Percentage contribution of each parameter on material removal rate during electrochemical machining of iron in aqueous NaCl electrolyte solution is shown in table 4 and represented graphically in figure 2. Table 4: ANOVA for MRR [NaCl as electrolyte] Fig 2. Contributions of the parameters when machining in presence of aqueous NaCl electrolyte solution Regression Equation: MRR= -0.01096 +0.002296Voltage +64.0FeedRate +0.000540Concentration. †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦(2) The equation (2) shows that Feed rate is dominant factor affecting MRR. The graphs shown in figure 3 are plotted from the regression equation (2). Fig 3. Main Effects Plot for SN ratios (NaCl electrolyte solution) Figure shows the main effect plot of the MRR depicting the effect of various machining parameters on MRR. As seen from the plot obtained, the MRR increased with increase in both voltage and feed rate. This is due to the fact that with increase in voltage the current increases in the inter electrode gap thus increasing the MRR. Feed rate is another important parameter. Increase in feed rate results in decrease of the conducting path between the workpiece and the tool hence resulting in high current density thus enhancing the rapid anodic dissolution. An overall increase in the MRR was also observed with increase in the concentration as the larger number of ions associated with the machining process which increases the machining current and thus results in higher MRR. Effects of selected process variables (i.e. Voltage, Feed rate and Concentration) on material removal rate (MRR) at different sets of conditions while machining in presence of aqueous NaCl solution are shown in figure 4(a), 4(b) and 4(c). Fig. 4(a) Effects of Voltage on material Fig. 4(b) Effects of Feed rate on material removal for different Concentration, removal for different Voltage, Feed rate= 0.0001 cm/sec. Concentration = 20 g/lit. Fig.4(c) Effects of Concentration on material removal for different Feed rates, Voltage= 14 V NaCl electrolyte tend to promote the oxidation of Fe2+ to Fe3+ during the dissolution process the maximum MRR obtained during machining of iron in aqueous NaCl solution recorded was 0.0653 cm3/sec. Although the higher concentration of NaCl is favorable for better MRR but excess concentration allows the crystal formation which reduces the volume of electrolyte in flow pipes and also affects the dissolution rate. Analysis of variance when machining in presence of electrolyte solution containing Cu2+ ions Percentage contribution of each parameter on material removal rate during electrochemical machining of iron in electrolyte solution containing Cu2+ ions is shown in table 5 and represented graphically in figure 5. Table 5 ANOVA for MRR [electrolyte solution containing Cu2+ ions] Fig 5. Contributions of the parameters when machining in presence of electrolyte solution containing Cu2+ ions Regression Equation: MRR = -0.0157 +0.002908Voltage +75.3FeedRate +0.000602Concentration. .†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. (3) The equation (3) shows that voltage is dominant factor affecting MRR. The graphs shown in figure 6 are plotted from the regression equation (3). Fig 6. Main Effects Plot for SN ratios (electrolyte solution containing Cu2+ ions) The oxidation of Fe2+ in to Fe3+ is restricted due to the presence of Cu2+ in electrolyte solution which promotes the higher dissolution rate during machining. The influence of selected process variables i.e. Voltage, Feed rate and Concentration on material removal rate at different sets of conditions in presence of electrolyte solution containing Cu2+ ions are shown in figure 7(a), 7(b) and 7(c) respectively. Fig. 7(a) Effects of Voltage on material Fig. 7(b) Effects of Feed rate on material removal for different Concentration, removal for different Voltage, Feed rate= 0.0001 cm/sec. Concentration = 20 g/lit. Fig. 7(c) Effects of Concentration on material removal for different Feed rates, Voltage= 14 V. The maximum MRR obtained during machining of iron in presence of Cu2 electrolyte solution containing Cu2+ ions was 0.0774 cm3/sec, which is 18.5% more when compared with aqueous NaCl electrolyte. CONCLUSION The electrochemical characteristics of iron in aqueous NaCl solution and electrolyte solution containing Cu2+ ions has been analyzed experimentally to investigate the influence of process parameters on MRR. The Process parameters such as voltage, feed rate, Electrolyte concentration, were successfully controlled. The different combinations of these parameters were used for the experimentation in order to determine their influence on MRR. The experiment was performed by varying all parameters in combination as per L9 orthogonal array. The experimental observations support the conclusion that the presence of Cu2+ ions in electrolyte solution restrict the further oxidation of Fe2+ to Fe3+ and enhance the low valence dissolution of iron during machining. Design of experiments and analysis of variance helped in identifying the significant parameters affecting MRR. The best combination of the parameters are Voltage= 18 V, Feed Rate=0.0005 cm/sec and electrolyte Concentration = 20 g/lit whe n using a solution containing Cu2+ ions as electrolyte. The maximum MRR obtained was 18.5 % higher when compared with aqueous NaCl electrolyte for the same set of working conditions. Acknowledgement: I express my sincere thanks to Department of Applied Chemistry BIT Extension Centre Deoghar for their cooperation to conduct the experiments in order to observe the catalytic behavior of Cu2+ ions. References: 1.Sekar T, Marappan R. Experimental investigations into the influencing parameters of electrochemical machining of AISI 202. Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Systems 2008; 7(2):337-43. 2.Bhattacharyya B, Munda J. Experimental investigation on the influence of Electrochemical machining parameters on machining rate and accuracy in micromachining domain. Int J Mach Tools Manuf 2003; 43(13):1301-10. 3. Kozak J, Rajurkar KP, Makkar Y, Selected problems of microelectrochemical machining Journal of Materials Processing Technology 2004; 149: 426– 431. 4. Bhattacharya B, Doloi B and Sridhar PJ. Electrochemical Micromachining: New possibilities for Micro- Manufacturing. J. Material. Proc.Tech 2001;113:301-305. 5. Bhattacharyya B, Malapati M, Munda J, Sarkar A. Influence of tool vibration on Machining performance in electrochemical micro-machining of copper International Journal of Machine Tool and Manufacture 2007; 47: 335–342. 6.Hocheng H, Sun YH, Lin SC, Kao PS. A material removal analysis of Electrochemical machining using flat-end cathode. Journal of Materials Processing Technology 2003; 140:264- 268. 7.Yong L, Di Zhu, Yongbin, Zeng, Shaofu Huang, Hongbing Yu. Experimental Investigation on Complex Structures Machining by Electrochemical Micromachining Technology, Chinese Journal of Aeronautics 2010; 23:578-584. 8.Mukherjee SK, Kumar S, Srivastava PK. Effect of electrolyte on current- carrying process in ECM, I Mech E Part C J. Mechanical Engineering Science 2007; 221:1415-1419. 9. Byk MV, Tkalenko DA and Tkalenko MD. On participation of hydroxide ions in the anodic dissolution of metals in aqueous electrolyte solution. Prot Met t 2004; 40(3): 294-296. 10.Ayyappan S and Sivakumar K. Investigation of electrochemical machining characteristics of 20MnCr5 alloy steel using potassium dichromate mixed aqueous NaCl electrolyte and optimization of process parameters.Proc I MechE part B Journal of Engineering Manufacture 2014. 11.Srivastava PK, Kumar R, Barhai PK. Energy Profile and Thermodynamic Feasibility of Iron(I) during Electrochemical Machining of Iron.International Journal of Mechanical Engineering 2013; 41:1146-1158. 12.Mukherjee SK, Kumar S, Srivastava PK. Effect of over voltage on material removal rate during Electrochemical Machining. Tamkand Journal of Science and Engineering 2005; 8: 23- 28. 13. Neto JC.d.S, Silva, EMd, Silva MBd. Intervening variables in electrochemical machining Journal of Materials Processing Technology 2006; 179:92–96. 14.Mount AR, Muir RN. Dissolution characteristics of iron and stainless steels in chloride under electrochemical machining conditions; Journal of the Electrochemical Society 2007;154: 3: E57; E61. 15. Electrochemistry 3: Cell potentials and thermodynamics, chemwiki.ucdavis.edu †º Analytical Chemistry †º Electrochemistry (2014, accessed 15 May 2015). Stephen K. Lower. Redox equilibria in natural waters: Chem1 Environmental Chemistry, http://www.chem1.com/acad/webtext/pdf/c3redox.pdf(1998, accessed 15 May 2015). 1

Sociology and Disabilities :: Sociology Essays

â€Å"If the technology became available for the deaf to hear completely, would you want your deaf child to have this technology?† It is every parent’s dream for their child to grow up healthy and happy. There are so many children in the world that do not have the ability to hear, and it is a horrible thing. Many would think it wrong for a parent to not want to give their child the gift of sight. If I had a child that was deaf, I would do everything in my power to help them get their hearing. If the technology was there to fix this disability, why wouldn’t anyone want their child to have it? â€Å"840 babies are born with a permanent hearing loss every year.†(NDCS of UK). This is a horrible number to hear, that so many children will never be able to hear. If there was any technology able to restore a child’s hearing it would be a shame if the parents didn’t get it. â€Å"Deaf children face tremendous difficulties learning to read, write and communicate with the hearing world around them.†(NDCS of UK). Not only would you be giving your child the gift of hearing by using this technology, but you will also help child to be able learn on the normal level of other children.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  It is also true that we can change and enhance our body features through elective cosmetic surgeries. Many people choose to undergo these surgeries because they are unhappy with their appearance. I feel that these procedures are unnecessary, and that you shouldn’t undergo surgery unless you need it for your health. I believe that people go through these procedures purely because they have low self-esteem. Society tells them that there is something wrong with their body, and they feel that they need to change it to fit in. I think that this is a way to see if someone is truly happy with themselves, as we all should. No one is perfect, so no one should try to be it. It’s just a waste of time and money on their part all so they can fit in, which I think is pathetic. It is always a risk to undergo surgery, and there is no reason to put yourself in unnecessary risk. I think that it is ridiculous to put yourself through something like that. If I had a ten year old dark-skinned African American daughter who wanted blue contact lens, have her skin chemically lightened, and straighten her hair, I definitely say no.

Academic History

I am currently enrolled in the Business School at Villanova University. My academic standing is good and I have maintained a grade point average of 3.62. I believe I am stable and the change I wish to make in my choice of universities is based on logic and not a whim. I have not transferred before, so this will be a first.My university experience has not had any significant breaks; it flows in an unbroken line from my initial enrollment to the present time. I suffered a few hiccoughs alone the way, but I have persevered, and I managed to rise from the bottom of my seventh year class in Shanghai to the rank of number one in ESL.I was in an alien environment and it was no small matter to adapt to the different culture I found in Shanghai. Despite my lack of height I managed to excel in varsity basketball as well. I think it is worth noting that I am not a native English speaker, but I took my deficiency in the language as a challenge and managed to thrive. I am proud of the fact that I quickly moved from ESL to 1B Class in the British system, which is equivalent to AP.I am steadfast in my resolve and I have not changed career paths. I have found that there is a lack of cultural diversity at Villanova. I initially did not realize the lack was so profound. I had erroneously assumed that matters would balance themselves and I would find there was more diversity than I first saw.This proved not to be the case, however. I believe that the university experience is not one-dimensional. I think a university education is only complete when the student is rounded into a productive member of society instead of just being grounded in the basics of his or her major.I was once accepted at the University of Washington, and I have every hope that the university will look favorably on my application once more, permitting me to correct my mistake and allowing me to attend the University of Washington as I should have done in the first place.  Major and Career Goals:It is my inte ntion to major in Finance. I believe that the university is home to one of the best and most extensive business programs in the United States. I am Taiwanese by birth and spent most of my life in Shanghai, which has a reputation as being the future â€Å"Finance Center† for all of Asia.Early on I came to realize the importance of knowledge in financial dealings, with money management being particularly important.   I spent my high school years in pursuit of learning all I could on the subject of economics, calculus and other math related subjects. Business is the life-blood of my country’s economy.I am savvy enough to understand that capital is the engine that drives business. It is as the old Chinese proverb says, â€Å"Money is not everything, but without money nothing can be done.† But I also realize that money alone is not enough. Having funding is only the first step toward a successful business. The entrepreneur must have the knowledge and associated ski lls to handle turning a profit and ensuring that the business operations run smoothly.Money management is the second part of the equation in producing success. I believe that a degree from the University of Washington will go far toward ensuring that I will have this knowledge and the necessary skills. I have expectations that a degree from your university’s Finance program will benefit me greatly as I scale the corporate ladder.Further, I believe that a University of Washington education will help me fulfill my avowed goal of becoming a specialist in investment analysis. My intention is to become an investment or business analyst in the United States, with an eye toward the Wall Street Journal. I have a fervent believe that I can attain this dream if I am blessed and fortunate enough to be accepted at the University of Washington.Cultural Understanding:The University of Washington is culturally diverse, and being Taiwanese, I am acutely aware of how important that can be for a student, irrespective of his area of study. I look forward to the healthy interaction and social intercourse that will avail itself to me in the richer milieu of this university.I look forward to the exchange of ideas and the broadening effect that intercultural communication can bring. In essence I look forward to being able to share my culture and I look forward to the learning experience I will receive from the various cultures of my fellow students.I fully expect the school to pave the path which I will follow as I experience personal growth on the road to my ultimate goals. It is not a capricious decision, I have carefully studied my options and have chosen what I believe to be the most advantageous avenue for me.When considering the reputation which the university enjoys I feel confident that my acceptance into the business program will furnish me with the needed tools to accomplish my goal in this life. I expect to become a highly competent business analyst, but more, I ex pect to become a productive citizen, replete with the values that will enhance the fulfillment of my aspirations.I expect to become a valued alumnus, having been enriched by the university experience. This growth in personal values and mores is important to my sense of self worth, and will make me a more valuable member of society.It is my belief that the true excellence of any institution of higher learning lies in its ability to educate the whole person. A school becomes truly excellent by excelling in the programs that it offers as well as the values it inculcates in its students, which is how I see the University of Washington.

Blauner Hypothesis Essay

Disucussion on the Noel and Blauner Hypotheses When two distinct groups first come into contact with each other, the conditions of that meeting can determine the fate and mold the relations of the two groups for generations. This is called the â€Å"Contact Situation.† Donald Noel and Robert Blauner have analyzed this initial contact and developed hypotheses that aid in the understanding of this phase of the inter-group relations. Donald Noel and Robert Blauner The Noel hypothesis recognizes that there are three segments to the contact situation, that when working together, lead to some sort of inequality between the groups. The hypothesis states: If two or more groups come together in a contact situation characterized by ethnocentrism, competition and a difference in power, then some form of racial or ethnic stratification will result (Noel, 1968, p. 163). In other words, if the contact situation contains all three of the situations, ethnocentrism, competition, and a difference in power, then some sort of dominant-minority social structure will be created. Ethnocentrism is defined as the tendency to judge other groups, societies or lifestyles by the standard of one’s own culture (Healy, 1999, p. 175). At some level, ethnocentrism is a necessary part of human culture. Without it, people would tend to not obey laws, social norms or work with others in every day life. Ethnocentrism can also create a negative effect. At the extreme end of it, it can create the view that other cultures are not only different, but are also inferior. When ethnocentrism exists at any level, most people follow group lines and tend to differentiate between â€Å"us† and â€Å"them† (Healy, 1999, p. 175) Competition is a struggle over a scarce commodity (Healy, 1999, p 175), and usually leads to prejudice and discrimination. In contact situations, the dominant group is the one that come out on top of the competition. Competition can be over anything that is desired by either group, or what one group has that other wants. The dominant group serves its own interests by ending the competition and exploiting, controlling, eliminating or dominating the minority group (Healy, 1999 p.176). Differential in power is the third component in a contact situation. There are three things that can determine the differential of power: the size of the group, the organizational skills, and group leadership skills, and the controlling of resources. A larger, better organized group with more resources will generally be able to impose its will on the minority group (Healy,1999, p.176). The Blauner hypothesis, analyzed in his book Racial Oppression in America (1972), identifies two other types of contact situations, colonization and immigration. Blauner’s hypothesis states â€Å"minority groups created by colonization will experience more intense prejudice, racism, and discrimination than those created by immigration. Furthermore, the disadvantaged status of colonized groups will persist longer and be more difficult to overcome than the disadvantaged status faced by groups created by immigration† (Blauner, 1972). Colonized minority groups such as African Americans are usually forced into minority status. The status is forced upon them by the military and political powers wielded by the majority group. One example is the slave status. Colonized minorities have virtually no chance for assimilation and are typically identified by highly visible physical characteristics. Most immigrant minority groups have some semblance of control over where they are immigrating to. For this reason, they usually keep enough of their culture and resources to help them achieve that which they strive for. While immigrants will face problems trying to assimilate, they usually have a better chance than those that have been colonized. Works Cited â€Å"Bob Blauner.† Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Blauner. Licinio, J., and Ma-Li Wong. Biology of Depression: from Novel Insights to Therapeutic Strategies. Weinheim, Wiley-VCH, 2005.

College Tuition Essay

In today’s society, the idea of a college education has become less of an option and more of a necessary requirement and is commonly considered the only way to acquire a successful career and life. There are many careers, in which a college education is not technically necessary, that can often be just as or even more successful. With the cost of college tuition increasing with every passing year, the controversy of whether college is really worth the cost and burden is growing too. If our society wants to continue displaying a college education as somewhat of a necessity for success, I believe the cost of it should shift to being a more realistic price, suitable for the majority of students striving to go to college. Most high school students feel pressure by not only the family, but also peers and teaching faculty to go to college because it’s â€Å"the smart thing to do†, but some may be hesitant to choose the college route because they believe their experiences will be different and the benefits of getting the job and making all their money back won’t apply to them. Economic research concludes that more students would gain from college rather than opting out from it, and choosing a different route. Yes, there are many careers that require little or no further education after high school that may be considered successful jobs, such as construction and more hands on jobs, but it is averaged that over a lifetime those who attend college make about $500,000 more than those who do not. â€Å"Seven out of ten college seniors (71%) who graduated last year had student loan debt, with an average of $29,400 per borrower. From 2008 to 2012 debt at graduation †¦ increased an average rate of six percent each year. † (The Project of Student Debt). With all of the debts, not covered by either scholarships or financial aid, accumulated over the course of an individual’s schooling, the amount of additional money made becomes less substantial; if the tuition and fees were to decrease, the additional money made would not be as affected. The costs to attend two of the leading universities in Oregon, University of Oregon and Oregon State, for four years averages at about $88,000, and that doesn’t even include everyday personal expenses. For non-residents that price is more than doubled that of a resident student. â€Å"In 1980, it cost an  average of about $56,000 (adjusting for inflation) to attend a university for four years. This figure includes tuition, fees, and the â€Å"opportunity cost,† or income one foregoes to attend school instead of holding a job. (This figure excludes room and board: one must eat and sleep whether she is in college or not. ) In 2010, four years of college cost more than $82,000, a nearly 50 percent increase over that 30-year period. †(Brookings Institute). Sure there are many scholarships and financial aid a student is able to apply for, but with so many students applying for such scholarships, you’re chances of receiving them become slimmer. A lot of scholarships also do not benefit students as a whole and either target minorities, athletes, or financial aid students. Community college is also a viable option for many, but is often looked down upon. You don’t often hear a high school student say â€Å"I want to go to a community college† or â€Å"I can’t wait to go to a community college† with loads of enthusiasm. Not only do students and their families look down upon going to a community college, but teachers as well think lesser of community colleges and often express their opinions out loud. This makes students look at community colleges as less of a viable option and more of a last option. When applying for jobs, it also looks a lot more prestigious when it is shown that one attended a university rather than a community college. Although most colleges may not consider ways to lower the costs of college, there are many ways in which a lower tuition and overall price is possible. One direct contribution to the costs of schooling is the professor’s salary. Many college educators do not actually deserve the amount of money they make. Teachers should receive a salary that accurately reflects how affective the professor is at teaching. College fees also include unnecessary additions that are not required and could easily be taken off, such as gym memberships, recreation center memberships, and other additional bonuses that are not essential. Also, although I’m a student-athlete as well, the amount of money given away in scholarships just to play sports at that school has become a bit ridiculous. If the amount of money for scholarships went back into the school directly, the cost of tuition would decrease, and the need for those said scholarships would decrease as well. It is apparent that student athletes are held to a higher regard than other students. Often, you see students that are all-state athletes that get decent grades receive more money and â€Å"special treatment† in comparison to a student that does not do related extra-curricular activities, yet gets exceedingly high grades. This is not fair in any way; the elimination or decrease of athletic scholarships given out would eliminate the inequality commonly displayed throughout colleges. College tuition is at an outrageous high right now and is not showing many signs of decreasing. The costs of college and sending a student off to college have become much of a burden for many families across America. With how necessary getting a college education is considered, the cost of it all should shift to a more suitable price. The shift would be very difficult to achieve, and would be a very long process, but I do believe it is possible, not only for my generation, but the next several generations of students on the path to attend college. Work Cited Page: Greenstone, Michael, and Adam Looney. â€Å"Regardless of the Cost, College Still Matters. † The Brookings Institution. The Hamilton Project, 05 Oct. 2012. Web. 31 Oct. 2014. . â€Å"Student Financial Aid and Scholarships. † Cost of Attendance. University of Oregon, n. d. Web. 31 Oct. 2014. . â€Å"Financial Aid and Scholarships. † Cost of Attendance. Oregon State University, n. d. Web. 31 Oct. 2014. . â€Å"State by State Data. † Project on Student Debt:. The Project on Student Debt, 2013. Web. 31 Oct. 2014. .

Analysis of Spotify's strategy Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Analysis of Spotify's strategy - Case Study Example This paper takes off from an examination of the historical and current business moves of Spotify, alongside its traditional cost structure and other relevant data, to piece together its current and emerging business strategies. From there, the paper uses theoretical analytical models, among them SWOT and Porter’s Five Forces models, to assess and analyze the soundness of Spotify’s business strategies, and to recommend ways forward for the firm based on the findings of that analysis. Piecing Together Spotify’s Current and Evolving Strategy Newer data reveals that the total user base of Spotify has grown to 24 million users who are active by 2013, with the number of paying subscribers roughly equal to one quarter of that number, or six million. Moreover, the company has pushed to widen the range of free music it is able to offer to mobile users, aiming to break free from a model where users have to pay 10 British pounds in the UK, to be able to access music from mobile devices as well as tablets. This is in line with the pricing of rivals such as Deezer, Napster and Rdio, which all charge the same monthly fee. A glimpse of its business model can be gleaned from the way it has allocated revenues to differing costs, key among them the payouts to the holders of the copyrights to the songs, which reached 188 million Euros in 2011. This payout to the holders of the song copyrights translates to 70 percent of all revenues. Since 2006 when it was launched, total payout estimate to the holders of the copyrights has reached half a billion dollars. The company has not turned a profit from its operations as of 2012 (Halliday 2013; CrunchBase 2013; Facebook 2013). Other recent developments that give a hint as to the evolving business strategy of Spotify include its first forays into advertising in the

All Worthwhile Learning Occurs in Educational Institutions Essay

All Worthwhile Learning Occurs in Educational Institutions - Essay Example This knowledge base takes a person through a variety of life experiences to help him or her practice a profession, meet people and basically, make a life. This paper discusses the fact that the process of worthwhile learning is not limited merely to educational institutions. The paper has been constructed in terms of a discussion of the determinants as outcomes of worthwhile learning outside the educational institutions. From there, it goes into finer details as far as aspects of those determinants of cognitive development are concerned. These aspects have to do with general and other competencies. Before launching into a discussion of the same, I have separated informal and formal learning so as to better understand the basis on which the determinants of worthwhile learning have been taken. ... It could be argued that any learning that contributes to the overall shaping of a person's cognitive development for positive interactions within their various spheres of operation are the de terminants of what learning is 'worthwhile learning'. Also, it is decided from his or her social position which affects the criteria of people of what is worthwhile due to the different needs and potentialities that exist in each social class. This fact raises some social issues about the inequality between people to gain access to privileged education (e.g. the notion of 'elite' universities) that will not be analyzed in this essay. So, the definition of worthwhile learning is a subjective view as according to Johnson: "One person's useful knowledge was another's useless ignorance" (see Johnson, 1988, p.23). But how do experiences structure any kind of learning Usually, it has been believed that the education system begins at home, for example involving the learning of specific sets of values. To begin with, the role of experience and learning from the same in one's life is one that fulfills the need to belong (Byram and Morgan, 1994). This sense of belonging rises from one's immed iate environment where there is focus on the values that one is born into and more characteristics of culture, region, and terrain. It should, of course, be acknowledged that not all learning in the home will necessarily be helpful as sometimes children can learn behaviors from parents that are not acceptable in a wider society like to be racist or sexist. The experience offers people first-hand knowledge of a variety of symbols (example) like judgment calls, decision-making process, and others, that one comes to associate with a place.